Pants topper bag



May 14, 1968 c. SCHLEMON PANTS 'TOPPER BAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1966 INVENTOR y 14, 1968 G. SCHLEMON 3,383,703

PANTS TOPPER BAG Filed April 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 M VE/VTOR Georye sclzlemofl M72 1 5 y: [r1441 7 A TTOR/VE Y8 y 1968 v G. SCHLEMON 3,383,703

PANTS TOPPER BAG Filed April 25, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE YS United States Patent 0 ice 3,383,703 PANTS TOPPER BAG George Schlemon, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Southern Mills, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 551,826 4 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garment finisher of the type including an inflatable bag having a shape generally resembling a pair of pants, said bag having a body portion and two leg portions, the leg portions being long enough to extend only partially through the legs of a pair of pants; and means for holding the leg portions of the bag in a substantially extended position when the bag is relaxed while allowing free movement of the bag to conform to a pair of pants during inflation of the bag.

The present invention relates to a garment finisher for the upper portions of pants. More particularly the present invention relates to a garment finisher comprising a pants topper bag for pressing and finishing the upper portions of pants in dry-cleaning operations.

Various types of pants topper bags are presently in use for pressing and finishing the upper portions of pants which have recently been dry-cleaned or are otherwise in need of pressing. In general, these bags resemble the shape of the upper portion of a pair of pants although larger in size. Each bag is employed by suspending it from the cantilevered arm of a control machine which supplies steam, steam and air, or merely air to the interior of the bag. The pressing operation is carried out by mounting a air of pants over the bag while it is in a deflated condition followed by inflation of the bag with the pants thereon. The bag is sufiiciently porous so as to allow the media used in inflating the bag to pass through the bag and garment but still cause the bag to become inflated and exert some outward pressure on the pants as it assumes the contour of the pants.

The machines with which these pants topper bags are used generally are provided with a partial pressing buck generally conforming to the front of the upper portion of a pair of pants. This pressing buck is also suspended from the cantilevered arm of the control machine. When a pants topper bag is suspended from the arm it is mounted over this pressing buck. The inflating media injection means extends into the interior of the bag from the arm in an area adjacent the pressing buck.

Heretofore, the usual pants topper bag which has been employed with these machines, has generally comprised a padded portion and an unpadded portion. The padded portion is generally of the same configuration as the partial pressing buck and when the bag is mounted on the machine the padded portion overlies and covers the pressing surface of the buck. The unpadded portion forms the remainder of the bag and is secured at an upper rear point to the cantilevered arm of the machine. When steam and/ or dry air is injected into the bag, the unpadded portion becomes inflated causing the padded portion to fit snugly against the surface of the pressing buck. In such condition the combination of the pants topper bag and the pressing buck produces a general configuration which corresponds to the upper portion of a pair of pants.

In carrying out a pressing operation with these prior art pants topper bags the resulting press and finish of the pants would oftentimes be unacceptable and require subsequent touch-up operations. Various wrinkles would appear along the pockets, fly and crotch area of the pants.

3,383,703 Patented May 14, 1968 This was apparently caused by the fact that the front of the upper portion of the pants should be forced to assume the shape of the pressing buck while the rear or seat of the pants assumed its natural shape due to the action of the inflated pants topper bag underneath. Moreover, it was extremely diflicult to maintain the leg segments of the pants topper bag fully extended into the corresponding legs of the pants. Consequently there was inadequate inflation in this region of the pants being pressed. The resulting unequal and unbalanced stresses caused the various areas of the pants to wrinkle during the pressing operation.

The pants topper bag of the present invention substantially improves on the above-described prior art bags in that acceptable pressing of the upper portions of pants may be obtained without necessitating subsequent touchup operations. Briefly described, the pants topper bag of the present invention comprises a completely inflatable bag having integral rod members extending into the leg segments of the bag for maintaining them in a downward extending relationship whereby adequate inflation of the bag is obtained in the leg segments. As a result, the entire bag conforms to the interior contour of the upper portion of the pants when the bag is inflated by the steam during the pressing operation and the occurrence of wrinkles along the pockets, fly and crotch areas of the pants is substantially eliminated to thereby dispense with costly touch-up operations The various features and advantages of the pants topper bag of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating the pants topper bag of the present invention mounted for operation on the cantilevered element of the pressing machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the pants topper bag of the present invention mounted on the cantilevered arm of a control machine.

FIG. 3 is a separate view of the pants topper bag with one side partially broken away to expose the interior construction.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the pocket assembly of the pants topper bag mounted on one type of suspension arrangement from the cantilevered arm of a control machine.

FIG. 5 is another partial view of the pocket assembly of the pants topper bag mounted on a second type of suspension arrangement from the cantilevered arm of a control machine.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a separate view of one of the rod members which are inserted and form a part of the present pants topper bag.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the mounted pants topper bag taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1 wherein the bag has been inflated.

The pants topper bag 10 of the present invention is shown mounted in position on a control machine M in FIG. 2. These pressing machines are of conventional design and may be supplied with steam and/or dry air from suitable external means. As illustrated, a pair of pants P as shown in phantom lines to more fully depict the manner and extent in which the pants topper bag is employed during a typical pants pressing operation.

The pants topper bag 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, generally approximates the shape of the upper portion of a pair of pants but is of somewhat larger size. The larger size is necessary to enable the bag to exert some outward pressure on a pair of pants mounted thereon when the bag is inflated. The bag comprises a body section 11 having a pair of leg segments 12 and 13 extending downward therefrom. An opening 14 separates the two leg segments in the crotch area so as to permit the bag to be used with a variety of pants sizes. This opening has no effect on the inflation of the pants topper bag during the pressing operation since a closure is formed by the corresponding crotch area of the pair of pants mounted over the bag.

Across the upper rear interior of the body portion 11 of the pants topper bag is a pocket assembly 15 which is stitched or otherwise affixed to the bag. The pocket assembly may be seen in more detail in FIGS. 4-6 and generally comprises two opposed pocket portions 16 and 17 which are horizontally entered from their respective sides which face each other and indicated as 16' and 17'. Located immediately below the pocket portions 16 and 17 and corresponding therewith are two loop portions 18 and 19. These loop portions are affixed to the pants topper bag only along their opposite lateral edges thereby forming a pair of vertical passageways which are generally indicated by numerals 18' and 19'. The function of the pocket portions 16 and 17 and the loop portions 18 and 19 will be discussed in further detail in connection with mounting the pants topper bag on the cantilevered arm of the control machine.

Also forming a part of the pocket assembly 15 are retention pockets 20 and 21. Each of these retention pockets are respectively affixed to the pocket portions 16 and 17 along single vertical edges 22 and 23 in such a manner that they are able to freely move in a pivotal manner about their afiixed edges. This freedom of movement is best seen in FIG. 1 wherein retention pocket 21 is illustrated as being pivoted out of the plane defined by the pocket assembly 15. The retention pockets 20 and 21, whose function will next be described, are open only along the bottom edges 20 and 21.

A pair of rod members 25 and 26 are positioned within the bag and serve a variety of purposes. One of these rod members illustrated in detail in FIG. 7 and comprises a lower ring 31, a shank 32 and an upper curved portion 33.

The positioning of the rod members within the bag, as seen in FIG. 1, is such that the upper curved portions 33 are slipped into the retention pockets 20 and 21. The curved portion 33 is merely provided for ease of insertion and to prevent any possibility of the upper edges of retention pockets 20 and 21 from being punctured by the rods. Other means and designs could also be employed. The shanks 32 extend angularly downward from the retention pockets into each leg segment 12 and 13 of the pants topper bag. The rings 31 at the lower ends of the shanks 32 provide an anchoring means for the lower end portions of the leg segments 12 and 13 of the bag as is evident from FIGS. 1 and 8. Anchoring is accomplished by gathering the lower open ends of the leg segments 12 and 13 to the rings 31 and securing them by any conventional tie or snap means or the like.

The rings 31 of the rod members may be of any convenient size smaller than the diameter of the corresponding leg portions of the pants which are being pressed. Additionally, these rings should be of such a size that the steam injected into the interior of the pants topper bag will not escape so rapidly as to prevent the bag from becoming inflated. Thus, it becomes apparent that the lower end of the leg segments 12 and 13 of the pant topper bag may comprise any size openings consistent with the above comments or they may be completely closed. If it is desired to completely close the bottoms of the leg segments care must be exercised so that undue stretching of the bag and pants does not occur during inflation.

The length of the shanks 32 of the rod members is so provided that the side areas of the pants topper bag remain sufficiently relaxed whereby, upon inflation, the pants topper bag will expand to increase its transverse or lateral dimension a sufficient degree so as to be effective in completely expanding but not overexpanding the upper portion of a pair of pants being pressed. At the same time, the shanks 32 must be of suflicient length as to maintain the leg segments 12 and 13 of the pants topper bag in a downwardly extending relationship so as to be seated within the corresponding leg portions of the pants. In this connection, it should be understood that the length of shanks 32 will depend upon the length of leg segments 12 and 13 of the pants topper bag. In some instances, such as may be encountered in pressing Bermuda type shorts, it may be desirable to provide leg segments 12 and 13 with sufficient length as to press the entire leg portions of the shorts and in such cases rod members 25 and 26 must be provided with shanks which are longer than those which may be required for other types of pants pressing operations.

The pants topper bag 10 of the present invention is preferably made of a heat resistant fabric which is sufficiently porous to permit some of the steam to pass through the fabric and into the pants being pressed while at the same time not overly porous so as to prevent inflation of the bag. This may generally be controlled by the closeness of the Weave. Nylon fabrics have been found to be satisfactory for construction of these bags but it should be understood that other heat resistant fabrics may also "be employed.

Referring to FIG. 1, it may be seen that a curved pressing buck 14 is fixedly secured to the end of the cantilevered arm C of a control machine and extends downward therefrom. The pressing surface of the buck may be covered with a conventional porous heat resistant pad 41 although such a pad is not always essential when employing the pants topper bag of the present invention. A steam injection line 42 extends down from the cantilevered arm and terminates adjacent the rear of the pressing buck in a region which is part of the interior of the pants topper bag.

As is apparent from FIG. 1 the pants topper bag 10 fits loosely over the pressing buck and is secured by means of draw-string or the like around the steam line 42 and the buck securing means 43. The rear portion of the pants topper bag is supported in suspended relationship from the cantilevered arm C by means of rod which extends through the grommet 24 in the upper cover portion of the bag. The rod 45 is secured at its upper end to a movable member 44 contained within the cantilevered arm C. As a result, the rear of the bag 10 is caused to move toward and away from the pressing buck 40 as the rod 45 is moved within slot 46 by member 44. The purpose of moving the rear of the pants topper bag 10 in this manner is to permit mounting and dismounting of a pair of pants over the bag in conducting a pressing operation.

In pressing control machines of the type which employ the pants topper bags of the present invention, there are generally two alternative suspension arrangements empolyed to provide a limited degree of expansion to the rear of the bag irrespective of inflation. It is for this reason that the rear of the bag is provided with both pocket portions 16 and 17 and loop portions 18 and 19; namely, to permit the bag of the present invention to be used with either arrangement without modification. The limited degree of expansion of the rear of the pants topper bag 10. While it is suspended from the cantilevered member C is desirable to both aid in the inflation of the bag during operation as well as in mounting the pair of pants over the bag prior to pressing. The latter feature will be more apparent from the discussion of the pressing operation.

FIG. 4 illustrates one arrangement for expanding the rear of the bag 10 while it is suspended from the cantilevered member C. In this arrangement a flexible expansion plate 50, secured to the lower end of rod 45, is inserted into pocket portions 16 and 17 on opposite sides of the rod 45 and behind rctension pockets 20 and 21.

The flexible plate has suflicient stiffness that the pants topper bag will not cause it to unduly fold upon itself but rather remains in a substantially outstretched relationship. Thus, the expansion plate not only serves to expand the rear of the bag but also provides the means whereby the rod 45 may support the bag without interfering with the rod members 25 and 26.

In the other expansion arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower end of the rod 45 is secured to a horizontal member 51 having flexible plates 52 and 53 disposed along one edge thereof in spaced apart relationship and extending downwardly therefrom. The rod 45 is, of course, somewhat Shorter than in the above described arrangement. The flexible plates are inserted through loop portions 18 and 19 of the bag in this arrangement to provide expansion for the rear of the bag while horizontal member 51 actually supports the bag through rod 45. Again, there is no interference with the retension pockets 20 and 21 or the rod members carried therein.

In conducting a conventional pressing operation with the pants topper bag of the present invention the movable member 44 is first allowed to slide forward in the cantilevered member C to thereby substantially collapse the bag to a size whereby a pair of pants may be easily mounted thereover. A pair of pants are slipped up over the bag with the fly centered over the pressing huck. The flexibility of the expansion plate at the rear of the bag maintains the pants on the deflated bag. In some instances, the movable member 44 may be resiliently mounted to also aid in maintaining the pants on the bag by urging the rear of the bag to an open position.

After the pants have been mounted on the bag 10 and while the bag is still deflated it should be noted that the rod members 25 and 26 function to maintain the leg segments 12 and 13 fully extended into the corresponding leg portions of the pants. This ensures that adequate inflation of the upper leg portions of the pants will take place during the inflating step.

Steam is next injected into the interior of the bag 10 by way of steam injection means 42. The bag 10 expands throughout its complete peripheral area to precisely fit the contour of the interior upper portion of the pants and provide a slight outward pressure thereon. This slight outward pressure is insuflicient to cause undue extension or stretching of the pants but, in combination with the heat and moisture from the steam, will cause wrinkles to be eliminated from the pants and a final press or finish to be set in.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 8, the pants topper bag 10 of the present invention becomes inflated in front of the pressing buck 40 and its corresponding pad 41. While the degree of inflation of the bag in this region may be somewhat exaggerated in the drawings for normal pressing operations, a cushion of 'air and/or steam is formed in front of the pressing buck due to the fact that the bag is completely unattached to the front surface of the pressing buck. The results obtained are, of course, that of the pants topper bag inflating to conform to the front portion of the pair of pants as well as well as the remaining portions.

At the same time the leg segments '12 and 13 become inflated within the upper leg portions of the pants. The net result of this total inflation of the upper portion of 'a pair of pants during the pressing operation is the substantial elimination of undesirable wrinkling of the pants which would require subsequent touch-up operations.

After steam is discontinued dry air may be injected into the bag for the purpose of removing any moisture which may have become entrained in the fabric of the pants as well as producing a cooling effect.

The finished pants may then be dismounted from the bag requiring only the normal pressing of the leg portions to complete the pressing operation. In the case of various types of shorts this latter operation may well be dispensed with completely if creases are not desired.

The pants topper bag of the present invention may also be provided with suitable zipper means to aid in mounting and dismounting the bag on the cantilevered arm C. An example of such means is indicated in FIG. 2 by numeral 60 and may be located on opposite sides of the front of the bag.

It is further pointed out that the present pants topper bag may be employed with the small pressing arms currently employed with the existing machines for purposes of pressing the front pleats in pants. There are no adverse eflects from the use of such pressing arms even though the 'air cushion immediately behind the pleats may be lost.

Thus having described the present invention it should be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope and therefore the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment finisher of the type including an inflatable bag and carrying means therefor, said inflatable bag having a contoured shape generally resembling a pair of pants and having a body portion and two leg portions, the leg portions being long enough to extend only partially through a pair of pants, said garment finisher being characterized in that the said bag is inflatable completely from the portion of the said bag that is adjacent to the waist of the pants to the outer extremity of the said leg portions, and in that holding means are provided to maintain the said leg portions in an extended position before the said bag is inflated, said holding means including a pair of rod members, one end of each of said rod members being mounted on and carried by said carrying means, the opposite end of each of said rod members having the outer extremity of one of the said leg portions attached thereto, both of said pair of rod members being so located within said bag as to allow free movement of the said bag during inflation of the said bag.

2. A garment finisher according to claim 1 wherein the said bag is slightly permeable to steam and air.

3. A garment finisher according to claim 2 wherein the completely inflatable bag is formed from a woven nylon fabric.

4. A garment finisher according to claim 1 wherein the body portion of the bag is provided with means for attaching the bag in suspended relationship to a source of garment finishing media.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,039 11/1956 Hoover et al. 223-73 3,055,564 9/1962 Forse 22373 3,160,335 12/1964 Jackson 22373 3,220,622 11/1965 Neokel 22373 3,263,877 8/1966 22373 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

